Everyone should be on the lookout for threatening calls from people faking IRS phone numbers and demands for immediate payment. These are scams. I urge taxpayers to stay vigilant and remain aware of the constantly changing tactics used by these criminals.

Here are five things the scammers often do but the IRS will not do.

The IRS will not:

Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.

Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.

Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.

Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

The IRS says that if you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, here’s what you need to do:

If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. The IRS workers can help you with a payment issue.

If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484 or report it online at the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting Page.

f you’ve been targeted by this scam, also contact the Federal Trade Commission and use their FTC Complaint Assistant at FTC.gov. If the complaint involves someone impersonating the IRS, include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

Also keep in mind that the IRS does not use email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issue involving bills or refunds.